Centurian 50 Slam 2024

At the beginning of 2023, I had the idea of attempting the Centurion 50 Slam. However, I was a bit half-hearted about it and didn’t sign up for all the races. I entered the South Downs Way 50 to get the ball rolling, but I had some setbacks and wasn’t in the right shape to run, so the slam dream was over before it even started. As Matthew McConaughey would say, "Don’t half-arse it." So, in 2024, the year I turned 50, I took the plunge, bought my ticket for the full slam, and there was no turning back.

The thought of running four 50-mile races was daunting, but it also felt like the perfect challenge for my 50th year—something I wanted to accomplish for myself. At first, I saw the slam as four individual races to check off one by one. But as time passed, I began to appreciate the bigger picture—the slam itself. Each race is unique, with its character and challenges, but they are joined together with the thread of a more significant challenge and the commitment and focus that that requires.

The timing of each race also brings its own set of obstacles, especially from a life-juggling perspective. As the challenge progressed, I realised that to be successful in the slam, I needed to respect where I was in my life and acknowledge what each course had to offer. I’d done some of these races before, so I had a point of comparison, but the beauty of ultra-running is that no two races are ever the same. Even on the same course, each race is different. Going in with an open mind and letting the race unfold naturally is one of the true joys of ultra running.

South Downs Way 50-Mile – 16th April 2024

The slam started with the South Downs Way 50. After missing it the previous year, I was ready and excited to get going. My own ultra marathon training has changed dramatically over the past four years due to perimenopause and a busy life, which required me to rethink my priorities. Running had to fit around my life, and I also added strength training and mindfulness as key focuses. The compromise was a reduction in weekly mileage, but I’ve found that this approach has worked well for the races I’ve wanted to do at this point in my life. 

I hadn’t done a proper recce of the South Downs Way the previous year—only covering about 20km before bailing due to feeling unwell. So the course was unfamiliar, but I’d heard good things about the rolling hills. The weather on race day was perfect: sunny but not too hot, with a brisk wind across ridges and the beautiful sound of skylarks in the air.

The race started well, and I felt comfortable and relaxed. As usual, I settled into a rhythm, focusing on my breathing and feeling good. One challenge of the South Downs Way is managing the hills. Most of them weren’t steep enough to justify power hiking, so I set myself a little challenge: I decided to run up the hills as far as the next person I could see. This game kept me motivated, and I ran up more hills than I initially thought I could.

I respond well to cheers and hugs during ultras, and I was lucky enough to have my sister and some friends out on the route to offer support. It’s such a massive morale boost!

In the race's later stages, I met my first fellow slammer, Simon. It’s fair to say he wasn’t having the best day, and we only ran together briefly (He was way ahead of me on all the other races!), but it was nice to connect with someone else doing the whole slam.  He’s kindly shared his own slam experience below!

I want to share a few of my times here to give some context to how wildly times can vary across events and from year to year. Ultra running is unpredictable, and that’s part of the challenge!

I finished in 9 hours 41 minutes. This was a 50-mile PB for me. I came in 21st female and 4th in my age group.

North Downs Way 50-Mile – 20th May 2024

Next up was the North Downs Way 50 in May. I’d run this race the previous year and had enjoyed it. The course has steeper hills than the South Downs and takes in the infamous Box hill! In 2023, I finished it in 10hrs 54mins

This year, I felt fitter and more confident, especially after my PB at South Downs Way. But within an hour of starting, I realised it would be a more challenging day than expected. I was lucky enough to see lots of people I knew on the route. Usually, this would be a time for big smiles and hugs. However, at the point that I saw them, I was feeling so rotten that I unexpectedly sobbed into people's shoulders! I have to say I’m always grateful for the hugs on the route, especially the comforting ones. 

I have many tricks from my toolbox that I pull out when things get tough, but today, my monkey mind really wanted to run the show. I sat on a tree trunk and had a little cry. I really couldn’t remember why I was here! 

One of the things Camino does is provide virtual crews for our athletes, and when I’m running, it’s great to have this to fall back on, too. I left a sniffly voice message for my coach, David on WhatsApp. A few kind words and a reminder to remember my Why were enough to get me back on track. By now I had slipped to the back of the pack and was becoming worried about the cut-offs. One thing I couldn’t afford to do was sit down on any more tree trunks and cry so I set off knowing that I wanted to finish this race. 

I finished the race in 12 hours 20 minutes, 65th female and 15th in my age group. That’s 1.5 hours slower than the year before; finishing was a sweet victory. It showed me that even when you think you can’t go on, you can always find more strength to give.

Chiltern Wonderland 50-Mile – 24th September 2024

The next race, Chiltern Wonderland, was a few months later. It’s a beautiful loop course through the Chilterns. It has punchy hills but plenty of runnable sections. Whilst there was more time between this and the previous race, the juggle of summer holidays and training was real. I hadn’t done as much specific training for Wonderland, but I’d run it the previous year and enjoyed it so I was hoping for the best.

Caroline and I travelled up the night before and stayed in a pub nearby, as we had done for the SDW.  A big thank you to Caroline for her brilliant organisation and support.  It meant a lot.

We saw many familiar faces, both runners and volunteers and the start, which always settles any pre-race nerves!

It was a hot day, and a few hours into the race it was clear that staying on top of hydration and electrolytes would be a priority.  So, I made sure I took in enough water, nuts, watermelon, and regular salt tablets. The centurion aid stations are brilliant and you’ll always find something you’ll fancy on them.  The Chilterns didn’t disappoint. Even though I’d done this race before, I enjoyed the scenic trails and pretty villages, there’s always something new to notice.

I finished in 10 hours 21 minutes,  22nd female and 6th in my age group, shaving 15 minutes off my time from the year before. It was a tough day, but I felt good to have improved my time.

Wendover Woods 50-Mile – Final Slam Race

The final race of the slam was Wendover Woods 50. From what I’d heard, it was muddy, tricky, and had an unusual format with 5 x 10-mile loops. I’d also been nervous about this race, as it was the one I needed to finish to complete my slam.  Fortunately, I had the wonderful Eleanor Corker, who offered to take me out on the route for a recce as it was her favourite. We picked a glorious autumn day, and it was great to get a lap done. Not only did Eleanor know the loop well, but she also had lots of great insights on its quirks, as it’s a rather windy loop. I felt better prepared, having done that loop ahead of the race. 

The conditions on the day were excellent, but there were still plenty of ups and downs and uneven terrain to navigate. With the clocks having gone back, it would get dark much earlier for this race, so I decided to push the pace a little while there was still daylight. Knowing I’d probably slow down once it got dark, it was good to get those daylight laps in.

I’ve been working on my downhill running for a few years after seriously injuring my knee back in 2021.  Through Feldenkrais and strength training it now feels like a joy to run downhill, and this course has plenty of really fun downhill trails. By the time the sun set, I had my headtorch on, and running through the forest at night was one of my favourite parts of the race. 

There is a beautiful sense of peace and calm in being focused on a single thing, letting thoughts come and go, simply observing my breath while moving through and being connected to the environment that I’m in. It’s one of the things I love the most about trail running. This year, I have lost two people that I love, and this race for me was a tribute to them. I held them in my heart with joy and ran through the forest, so grateful for having had them in my life and my love for them. 

After the third lap, unless something disastrous happened, I knew that I would finish the slam even if I walked, so it was great to really relax and have a couple of laps, knowing that I’d achieved my Centurion 50 slam dream. 

I finished in 11hrs 29 min - 8th Female and 2nd in my age group.

WW50 was another well-organised event from Centurian, and the wonderful volunteers made it even more special. When I crossed the finish line, I really felt emotional, but there were plenty of lovely volunteers to give hugs and support. I’m really grateful to the volunteers and the Centurion team for putting on such a wonderful event. The slam was a great experience, and I would really recommend it. 

Simon Stokes 

The Centurion Running 50 Grand Slam is far more than just a series of four running events. It is an 8-month-long adventure, a challenge to remain focused, stay fit, and train hard to complete the journey. It is an exploration of the Southeast, revealing the beautiful landscapes that many of us proudly call home.

The untouched trails captivate all trail runners, drawing us deeper into the world of ultrarunning. The 50 Slam delivers a rollercoaster of emotions and physical trials as you tackle each race, navigating the highs and lows of running 50 miles. It pushes you to run hard, strive for self-improvement along the way, and give you everything you have – while keeping one eye on the bigger goal: completing the entire series. Self-preservation becomes essential to reach November with your 50 Slam aspirations intact.

And then comes Wendover Woods, the final and toughest challenge. With nearly all the hard work behind you, this event tests your resolve like no other. Its relentless elevation, the mental battle of running laps, and the sheer demand of covering another 50 miles makes it a gruelling finale. Yet crossing that finish line, knowing you have joined the ranks of a small, determined group of finishers, is an unparalleled triumph. The pride and fulfilment – and yes, that massive medal – make it all worthwhile.

But the greatest reward of the 50 Slam is not just the achievement. It is the sense of being part of something bigger. You meet new faces, forge friendships that last a lifetime, and connect with fellow runners who share your passion for the madness of ultrarunning. You will find camaraderie in shared advice, smiles, hugs, and stories, discovering your tribe within the incredible Centurion Running community. It is more than just running. It is feeling truly at home.